What Records Should I Keep After A Work Injury?

As we mentioned in this post about seven helpful tips for injured workers, it is extremely important that you record and document everything that pertains to your work injury case. Some of these documents are pretty standard, but what other records should you keep? Below, we explain what information you should track throughout your workers’ compensation case.

Record Keeping After A Work Injury

Make a copy or keep records of all the following information if you are injured at work:

Missed Work – Since there’s a direct correlation between how much work you missed and how much compensation you receive, be very diligent about how much time you missed. Also, if your typical work week isn’t 40 hours, be specific about the hours you are missing. If you normally work 48 hours a week, don’t just say you missed five days of work – also specify your missed hours to ensure correct calculations can be made.

Your Claim – This probably goes without saying, but you should document every form that pertains to your injury claim. Accident reports, claim forms, witness statements/contact information and acceptance/denial letters should all be copied and stored in your records and sent to your lawyer.

Medical Forms – This could fall in the above category, but it deserves its own section. Keep track of every medical form you fill out, as well as dates of appointments and medical exam results. These will help prove to your lawyer and the insurance company to what extent you are injured.

Phone Conversations – Whether you are on the phone with the insurance company, your doctor, your employer or your lawyer, make a note of what day the call occurred, who you spoke with, what the conversation was about and any other aspects you deem to be important. If you need to answer any questions related to past conversations, you’ll have a detailed record in your arsenal.

Pain Journal – Some workers find it helpful to create a pain journal in order to log their daily pain. This can turn out to be helpful if the insurance company disputes the seriousness of your injury claim. Some people also find it helpful because it provides a clear reference of their recovery process where they can see how far they’ve progressed since the initial injury.

Mileage and Out-of-Pocket Expenses – Finally, you’ll also want to keep track of any out of pocket expenses or any expenses related to your injury. This includes mileage for visits to the doctor’s office, assistive devices, or anything else you’ve paid for that relates to your injury. Reimbursement may not be guaranteed, but you won’t know for sure unless you track it.

For more information on what you should track, or if you need help with your work injury case, reach out to Dean Margolis today.